Thursday, March 11, 2010

Thrifty Canvases

**Post Script: October 8 2012** I have had so many emails about this project, as well as posts, that I thought I'd try and answer some of your questions. Thank you so much for all the nice comments and posts! I am sorry I'm just now getting an update - please note I don't keep up with this blog any longer as my photography business is now full time - you can check out my photography blog at: www.cribtalesphotography.com
OK, here we go...
1. dimensions - several people asked about the dimensions of my portraits. If you click on the image below that shows my scaled down print out you will see the dimensions of each portrait. The largest is 24X20, the smallest are 4X6, there are a few 8X8's and 5X5
2. I've not tried modge podge but I have seen other sites that try it with success; maybe try it with a smaller less expensive photo first
3. Two years later my prints are still in pretty good shape. The edges are starting to peel up so I will probably need to re-glue them soon, but no one really notices that but me. If I were to do it again I'd probably get the larger ones pre-mounted on styrene via my current print house, White House Custom Color. That would cost a bit more but eliminate the peeling issue. These really don't gather dust because they are hung on a wall so there's nothing for dust to cling to really. I live in Colorado so dust is a factor typically.
4. My pillows - yea, they're not the prettiest pillows ever. I've since changed them out and the room has tones of pink, green, and red. Yes, someone told me how ugly my pillows were.
5. The portraits are glued onto the fabric side of the wrapped canvas. The ugly side faces the wall. I've had no issues at all with them coming unattached from the wall. Yet...
6. The black fabric is just inexpensive, thin cotton black fabric. It has very little "give" - you don't want a jersey fabric because it would pull and be thinned out.
7. The styro is the pink insulation stuff at Lowe's. I've used the white stuff for projects as well and it works fine. I used the white stuff covered in fabric to make large but light backdrops. :-)

I think I covered all the main questions I've received. Thanks for the additional tips various posters have shared! I hope this project brings you the joy it has brought me. Two years and I still smile every time I walk in the room. Bonus, I now have a small studio in my house and these portraits now serve as a showcase of my work. And one other funny story - we had a holiday party last year and a friend brought her husband whom I'd never had over before. He walked in my family room and immediately said "Hey, I've seen you on Pinterest!" Nicest thing anyone could say to me!

Cheers!
Amy

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I love the look of large portrait canvases in a room. They are personal, elegant and tell a story that no piece of store-bought art could ever do. They are also very expensive. Shhh...don't tell my clients this, I would like very much if they all ordered canvas portraits. Lots of them. But I'm also realistic. To do a wall of canvases such as I imagine, would cost me a small fortune. And since I am a part-time photographer and full-time mommy/homemaker, that does not fit in our budget. But I knew I could come up with an inexpensive "thrifty" way to get the same look for a lot less.

This little project combines 3 of my greatest joys in life: photography, thrifty home decor, and my family. Trifecta!! Here's how I did it:

supplies:
*several large print images - I used Bay Photo for printing- they are amazing! But they are a professional printer so as an alternative I do recommend Mike's Camera or another camera store that focuses specifically on photography. I also highly suggest lustre or matte, never glossy. Don't skimp on photo printing if you are going large format. Go big or go home, that's my motto!
*layout of what you want your design to be (see below images for an idea)
*large pieces of custom cut insulation foam
*enough inexpensive black fabric to "wrap" each of the pieces of foam
*spray adhesive
*staples and duct tape
*adhesive Velcro
*level and ruler

ok - here we go...

I first toyed with using MDF. But I knew this would be way too heavy for my wall. So I scoured the Home Depot and found this pink insulation foam stuff. I asked the HD guy if it was ok to cut and glue on this surface. He said yes. He also said I could paint it, but that turned out to not be the best option since it warped the foam. I'll get to that in a minute. I had the nice HD guy cut my larger pieces for me. He would not cut anything smaller than 12 inches. I cut those at home with a razor blade. We tried using our circular saw but it dented the foam.

foam pieces cut to size:

Next up was giving the foam a canvas-y look. As I said, I thought about just painting the edges black but that warped the foam and was messy. I decided to just wrap them in inexpensive black fabric, sort of like a present. The only part of this fabric that will show is the edge. I wanted it to sort of blend into the background but still pop on the wall.

Here I am stapling the fabric to the foam. That was easy. Notice that is a plain stapler.

More stapling, and a view of the thickness of the foam. I just wrapped it like a present, doing my best to insure that I got the sharpest corners possible.

I then decided to use some good old fashioned duct tape just to further secure the staples. Elegant - no. Sturdy - yes.

Here are all my canvases, and a "peek" at one already complete

Next step - I sprayed heavy duty adhesive spray onto the front of each "canvas"

Next step - I don't have a picture of it. But I just placed each print onto the sticky canvas and rubbed it with a very soft cloth (my t-shirt) to get it to adhere. This was really easy, too.

Here are all the lovely big ones ready to go...

My little canvases - aren't the cute!

Keep'n it real - this is what my boys did while I was gluing

My laid out design with measurements. I wanted it to be centered on our family room wall. You can get a glimpse of what my sizes were for my images if you click on this picture. The largest print was 20x24. The smallest were 4x6's.

I used double sided Velcro to adhere the canvases to the wall. They are SO light. I probably could have used any of a number of sticky-type-stuff to hang it, but I settled on Velcro. That way if I want to change out my canvases can just take them down and put new ones up, like a rotating gallery. Plus this made it easier to make sure everything was nice and level. I followed my measurements above for hanging. And used a level and a ruler to insure every image hung perfectly. Tada!

This is the view into the playroom from the family room. Ignore that ugly lamp and shade, we're working on our lighting in this room.

Can I tell you how much I totally LOVE this project. LOVE it. It turned out just as I pictured it (harhar!), and though there was some trial and error, it was fairly stress free. It was also less than the price of one canvas for me to get 13!! The prints came up at just over $100. I would only use a very trusted printer to do images this large. Smugmug rocks. I had it printed on lustre paper which gives it a bit of sheen but also does not show fingerprints like glossy. The other costs include: glue - $8; fabric - $5; Velcro - $12; pink foam - $10. I also bought black paint that I didn't end up using but since I have a thing for black painted furniture, I'm sure it will get used somewhere else (and somewhere my sweet and uber-patient-husband is grumbling about this comment...).

That is it! I think this project gave me more satisfaction than just about anything else we've done on the house. It is very personal to me. In fact selecting the images I wanted to use took the better part of a weekend. The rest was cake. I love it!Thanks for reading!

I've had pretty good luck printing large format at Costco. FYI. They do up to 12 X 18 in store, and if you go bigger than that I am pretty sure it's shutterfly or snapfish that actually prints it. And it's cheap! $2.99 for a 12 X 18.

Just letting you know I linked to this post. I know it's old news on your blog, but I loved your creativity and wanted to pass on your tutorial. Here's my info. if you'd like to see the post. makethemwonderblog.blogspot.comPosting in the morning so it won't be up until then!

So, you printed them black and white, right? I just bought some art canvases from Michaels, and I"m assuming I could do pretty much the same things with them as you did with the foam board? What are your thoughts?

Sorry I'm just responding, I just saw the new additions! A year later they've held up really well. The only thing I wish I'd done is ordered the prints mounted on very thin board from my printer. That would have been better for gluing down. Occasionally I take a soft cloth and smooth the edges back down because that area gets a lot of sun and I think the sun sort of softens the glue. But they haven't come loose or anything, just a few of the edges and only noticeable by me.

Yes, you can use pre-bought canvases too. I did some for a friend that way and they look amazing. She added them in with true canvas prints and they look great together. Thanks everyone!

Awesome, thanks for sharing. This has come at the exact right time. We are due to move soon and will have to rent for a few months so being able to personalise the walls without too much weight will be great.

Today I am putting photos onto canvas w/ mod podge. This will be my first time ever doing crafts..lol..however this looks like it might be a little cheaper. Canvas is expensive, I just so happen to get a deal on the at Hobby Lobby this past weekend. Next project I am doing this for sure :)

I have some amazing native American ruins and dancer photos I wanted to canvas but can't afford. They are so spiritually important to me and it has been bothering me so much not having them on the wall. Now I can! Thank you!

Is there a safe way to take off the pics from the canvas with all these glues? I will be ordering some expensive professional prints and am not sure I should glue it onto the canvas but it will kill my budget big time if I order them canvas style!!! I am a stay at home mom with limited budget.

Absolutely amazing - it looked so complicated to do, but following your step by step instructions makes it so easy, I cant wait to take some new family photos and making my own personal wall .... thankyou so much for sharing this with us

Absolutely love it!I am getting ready to move and am going to do this for sure - I would love it if you gave the size of ea. print so I could copy the layout and and save time. Is that possible? Thanks! Lynne

Ok, so not only do i LOVE your idea and your SmugMug choice (i have my photography website through them,) but also LOVE your wood floors! i bet a million dollars those are "tobacco road" handscraped solid hardwoods from lumber liquidators?

1. My Glue that I used is Aleen's Crystal Clear, Acid Free Spray. My pictures have not yellowed so my guess is the acid free is the important part2. I always get my prints done in Lustre.3. The camera I used for this is 12 mega pixels. 4. I haven't tried to remove the pictures from the "canvases" so I don't know exactly how to do that. I don't want to try it because I don't want to ruin my pictures. You could try a small one - maybe just with a 4x6 you have on hand that you aren't afraid to ruin.5. the hardwoods in our house were here when we bought the house so I don't know what they are, but they are the first thing I fell in love with when we saw the house! :-)

Thank you for sharing! I'm so excited about this. I have been researching for quite some time on how to do my own pics on canvas at a fraction of the cost of just one. No need to look further and you definitely can't go wrong with SmugBug!

I've seen another way of doing canvas prints and this by printing a photo on a napkin taped to a A4 sheet of paper (to get it through the printer) and than glue it on canvas. Similar to napkin glueing. I've printed the first photo already. Need to buy a canvas for it. Will post it when finished.

"Sorry I'm just responding, I just saw the new additions! A year later they've held up really well. The only thing I wish I'd done is ordered the prints mounted on very thin board from my printer. That would have been better for gluing down"

Is this an available option on Smug mug? I don't see it? What do they call it? Thanks! I can't wait to try this project!!!!

OK, totally did this, love it. I didn't use fabric, I used Black duct tape and just taped the edges and did box folds for the corners, looks awesome. Found a spray adhesive that does work on foam and went nuts! SO MUCH FUN! THANK YOU, It cost me 49 dollars for 6 huge pics, 4 16x20 and 2 18x12, prints were 32 and the remaining goods were 17.

just found this via pinterest! fabulous! i wonder how good the "engineering drawings" from staples would be...i know you don't skip on the pics. less expensive than snapfish. what type of black material did you use? they all vary so in weight. thanks for posting! <3!

Love this idea. Trying to figure out where I have space to do such a collage. I shared your idea on my blog at:http://controllingcraziness.blogspot.com/2012/01/inspiration-for-weekend-3.htmlThanks for DIY-ing and posting your tips.

This is great! Have you tried using Black Foamboard for the backing? As a graphic designer, I have to use foam board to matte my projects all the time and something like this http://www.dickblick.com/products/elmers-black-foamboard/ may save even more time.

Such a cool idea! I am trying this tomorrow. I am going to try the pre-made canvas instead of foam since Michaels has them on sale. Do I need a different type of spray glue then what you used on fabric? What size were your little square pictures (not the 4x6's)? Thanks!

LOVE this! I too am a part-time professional photographer and a full-time Mom of 4 kids. I have SOOOOOO many large prints and not nearly enough frames... this is totally the solution for me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Just finished my project using these directions and my pictures look great! I used 3/4" foam from Lowes and Krylon spray adhesive. My photos are in color so I used white "monks cloth" which has a nice texture and looks like a canvas. Folding the corners was a bit tricky due to the fabric bulk, but by the time I got to the end of the 15 photos I used, they looked fairly smooth. Costco did an amazing job on the enlargements. Thanks for posting these detailed directions. THANKS PINTEREST...my huge blank wall is now a show-stopper!

This is absolutely amazing! Talk about inspiration. I've been wanting something like this for a very long time, but as you stated it's rather pricey to have them done! And the step by step instructions.......so perfect!

Very cool! And thank you for the detailed instructions. I've been wanting to do this, but the expense for a pro to do it was a bit much. I sometimes come up with good ideas, but it's my wife who is pretty good with crafts so I'll enlist her help.Thanks again!

Ok this may have been addressed already and I do see that you have a pic of your dimensions but how big are your larger pics? I know you said the small ones are 4x6, correct? Thanks for sharing this idea! I have always wanted canvas pics but they are way too expensive. This is a wonderful alternative! Thanks again!!

that expensive but it is looking so good, great photography and nice photo collection, i like Thrifty Canvases most kids looking so cute in black in white prints, nice blog posting, and i just want to say thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Excellent! I am a photographer too and am always looking for ways to mount photos without frame. I've tried using foam boards before but the raw foam edge has been problematic, never thought about covering the whole thing. May try incorporating this with my experiments in printing on fabric, I could print a photo on fabric with black edge, then wrap whole thing onto board. Hmmmm

Wowwww... Lovely & amazing. I just could not leave your site without commenting. Hats off to you! You are incredibly talented and very sweet of you to share your ideas. Thanks very much for the details.

Really amazing! I've gone back and forth, from wood, and actual canvas... I'm always nervous! I think I like your take the best! Though, I have a few questions. I apologize if you've answered these already, there's almost 100 comments so, I'll admit I didn't read them all. First, would it hurt anything to modpoge these? Like in place of the adhesive? I have that on hand. Knowing that the photographs will be exposed, makes me nervous. You never know what might happen. A splash here, a wet dog shake there... the list could get rather long. Could I use modpodge to seal them? Over time, did they dust, or discolor without any protection? My house is a dust magnet. I'd want to be able to clean them up without harming the pictures. Second, Where did you have your prints made? I've been using Wallgreen's (A local drug store), and I'm appalled at the quality. You're prints look amazing! There's so many options online, I'm not really sure where to start. Third, do you know what the insulation stuff was called? I want to know where to look at Lowes. Thanks so much for posting this! You have a beautiful home, and some very handsome young men!

Hello, this is a great idea! Thanks for sharing. Forgive me for this dumb question but I am DIY-challenged...which side did you put the prints on, the side with the black fabric, or the duct tape side? The fabric, right?

Hi there! Your work is truly beautiful.Lowe's sells a green foam insulation that doesn't warp when painted-it has like a clear sealant on it. and hobby lobby sells a foam cutter specifically for this stuff! It's like a hot wire that cuts through this like butter! It seals the edges and keeps them from warping too! We use this method at school all the time for projects :)

Every person want to buy a canvas print in low cost, and they always wait for a cheaper plan, and they don't get attractive products to cheaper plan, you have added very nice tutorial for making a thrifty canvas print. i just want to say thanks for sharing the tutorial.

Great job! One of the most informative DIY tutorial's I've seen. A cool way to transform your print is by adding some acrylic paint and a few brush strokes. You can either paint the entire print or a portion - either way it gives a very unique look.

Excellent art work. Thanks for share your tutorial. I have always wanted to get into printing on canvas. It's a nice information about the Attractive Canvas Prints. Thanks …. I’m hoping there will be more posts.Great information.You really did a great job on posting.

It is memorable to capture the golden moments get frame.Never settle yourself less then the best.I was wondering over the net and found your posts by chance is it nicely set and manage i wish i will visit again with new ideas.

The best gift for someone is to give them a canvas painting. It is both memorable and irreplaceable and they can admire it for the rest of their life. So far I have bought a couple of canvasses, all from this company and I am quite pleased with the quality and their services https://youtu.be/c71YYgUfW6M

Custom White Canvas Printing Services - Canvas printing and photography became as a real good mix a while back now. You can use any image even if it is from a normal camera, but it always helps if you are looking for a sharper and cleaner image to use photographic images as they tend to have been worked on to the highest.